Castle knocks off Campbell to reach OIA softball semis
POSTED: Friday, May 01, 2009
A May Day celebration came one day early for the Castle Knights.
Macycee Moe went the distance on the mound and delivered the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning with a double as Castle upset Campbell 4-3 last night in the quarterfinal round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference softball playoffs.
“;I have to thank the defense for backing me up,”; Moe said.
Castle played error-free defense, anchored by steady third baseman Chandelle Dacosin. The win at Central Oahu Regional Park propels Castle (11-3) into today's semifinals and sealed a state-tournament berth. The Knights will play Roosevelt at CORP in a 5 p.m. game.
Moe's double to the right-field corner brought home Leisha Liilii to break a 3-all tie. Liilii reached base on an error by Campbell shortstop Nicole Arata, and then advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by catcher Jaycelyn Kim before Moe smacked the line-drive double. Moe was thrown out trying to stretch the play for a triple, but the run was all she needed to finish off the Sabers, who are ranked No. 3 in the Star-Bulletin Softball Top 10.
In the bottom of the seventh, Moe got the first two outs before facing Katie Manuma, her pitching counterpart and Campbell's clean-up hitter. Manuma had an idea of where the 3-2 pitch was coming.
“;(The left fielder) was by the line, but the catcher told her to move more to center (field), so I knew they would pitch outside,”; Manuma said. “;I didn't want to strike out on the last swing. I just wanted a base hit.”;
She ripped a screaming line drive to deep left field, where Castle outfielder Kalena Lessary jumped to snare the shot, landing with a snow-cone catch for the final out.
“;It was drifting up. I had to jump,”; Lessary said.
For three Castle starters—Brooke Kaulula'au, Katy Wills and Moe—tonight's semifinal means they won't dance in the school's May Day program.
“;Softball is more important. We always wanted to play for Castle together,”; Moe said.
Wills agreed.
“;Since we were little, this is what we dreamed of,”; she said.
At CORP
| Castle (11-3) | 300 | 000 | 1 | — | 4 | 12 | 0 | |
| Campbell (10-3) | 001 | 002 | 0 | — | 3 | 10 | 1 |
Maycee Moe and Kaisha Dacosin. Katie Manuma and Daylene Antonio, Jaycelyn Kim (4). W—Moe. L—Manuma.
Leading hitters: Cas: Chandelle Dacosin 3-4, run; Alyssa Cipriano 2-4, triple, 2 RBIs; Kaitee Wills 2-4, RBI. Camp: Gerika Pantohan 2-4, double, run; Brittney Esprecion-Lukas 2-3, RBI.
No. 2 Mililani 6, Leilehua 2
| Leilehua (5-8) | 000 | 100 | 1 | — | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Mililani (10-2) | 100 | 320 | x | — | 6 | 10 | 2 |
Alex Smith and Ciara Paracuelles. Kishti Kamaka and Rebecca Lee. W—Kamaka. L—Smith.
Leading hitters: Lei: Smith 3-3. Mil: Kristi Oshiro 2-3, 3b; Jamie Aiwohi 2-3, 3b; Jayme Robinson 2-3, 2 2bs; Glenelle Nitta 2b.
Also
Roosevelt 7, Waianae 3
OIA WHITE PLAYOFFS
Kalaheo 4, Radford 2
| Radford (2-6) | 020 | 000 | 0 | — | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Kalaheo (8-5) | 201 | 100 | x | — | 4 | 5 | 0 |
Erin Laurerit and Leiandra Esclito. Caira Pires and Jerica Olson. W—Pires. L—Larent.
Leading hitters: Rad: Sanoe Tuitele 2-3, Akalaina Baravilala 1-3; Laurerit 1-3; Amanda Nicholas 1-3; Esclito 1-3. Kalh: Olson 2-3, 3b; Sarah Fitzherbert 1-3; Teone Farley-Mahoe 1-3; Noelani Maglinti 1-3.
Kalani 12, Aiea 7
| Kalani (8-5) | 442 | 030 | 0 | — | 12 | 10 | 4 |
| Aiea (7-5) | 000 | 420 | 1 | — | 7 | 8 | 3 |
Jade Teruya and Kristi Belshe. Rayna Strom and Ashlei Liilii. W—Teruya. L—Strom.
Leading hitters: Kaln: Chelsea Yamamoto 3-5, RBI; Kristiann Endow 2-4, 3b, 3 RBIs. Aiea: Strom-Okimoto 2-2, 2b; Tiara Fetui, 2-4, 3b; Liilii 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs.
Kamehameha 8, Maryknoll 6
| Maryknoll (4-10) | 200 | 003 | 1 | — | 6 | 9 | 1 | |
| Kamehameha (4-10) | 120 | 041 | x | — | 8 | 6 | 3 |
Ariel Silva and Kori Nishitomi. Brandi Smith, Jamie Millwood (4) and Mai Kalakau. W—Smith. L—Silva
Leading hitters: Mryk: Silva 2-4, 2 2bs, 2 RBIs; Brianne Guro 1-3, 2b, RBI. KS: Marche Llanos 1-3, 2b; Reyna Ae 1-2, RBI; Nadia Le'i 1-2, RBI.
